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| Filled with the holy spirit, jesus returned from the jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days... - Luke 4:1-2 REFLECTION: How have you spent "quality time" with the Lord lately? Lord, quiet me and calm my heart. silence the noise of my life that I may hear your voice. Activity Get to know yourself, and make this Lent a time of choosing, of going down inside and asking, "Do I really choose life? Do I really keep the commandments as Christ indicated they must be kept by those who love him?" THOUGHT for the DAY Jesus is tempted by the devil in the desert. He denies all the temptations with reference to the Scriptures. herein lies a recipe for our success when we are tempted to sin. however, there is a catch to it, in order to refute temptation with Scripture, we will frist have to know the Scripture ourselves. This is why it is important for us to read our Bibles several times a week if not daily! This is not just the responsibility of the priests and religious but also every Christian! | | |
| then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday... - Isaiah 58:10 She came from a poor family. Her parents' source of living was to sell candies to convenient stores. Her family moved to Manila (Philippines) during the Japanese occupation then later returned when she was eight. At age 14, her father arranged her marriage to a man whose extended family treated her like a slave. She was cook, laundry woman and maid for three household... and a battered housewife. At age 21, she left her abusive husband and took her two children. She then ventured into selling bread. Later, she was able to open her own bakery but one day it got burned to the ground. But this did not discourage her. The incident led her to build a department store, then later, through a bank loan, a mall, which she called NE Pacific Mall in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija (Philippines). Today, she has four malls, a subdivision and investments in several companies. That's the story of Leticia Uy, the president of NE Group of companies. Many of us quit too soon. While it's easier to stay down when we fall, the rewards of the person who doesn't quit easily far outweighs the quitter. Judith C. REFLECTION Do you allow setbacks to pull you down? Fill me with your Spirit of perseverance and love. ACTIVITY Jesus befriends people who are condemned by this world. What person in your life have you condemned as a sinner? Write, call or visit this person today. THOUGHT for the DAY Jesus does not really care what has gone on in your past life regarding your sins. What he is interested in is whether or not you are willing to repent and turn away from those sins. If so, then all things are possible in terms of the grace that He will give you, like Levi/Matthew, you may even be called to be an apostle in His name. The apostles and saints of the Church have often come from very "colorful" pasts. There is every reason to believe that the same grace of conversion and holiness is available to us today if we really want it! | |
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| The people ask, "Why should we fast when the Lord never notices?" --- Isaiah 58:3 There came a point in my life when I wanted to stop doing good. Why? It was because I thought God never took notice of what I did. I gave alms to the poor. I helped my less fortunate students. I played with my orphan neighbors. I provided well for my family. I had a regular prayer time. In short, I was counting my good deeds before God because I thought He was irrational and unfair. At that time, my spirit was crushed and I was almost defeated by problems. Then, God made me realize one important thing. We were all created because of His goodness. So, all my little acts of goodness don't come from me. They all spring forth from God's abundance and I am just His mere instrument. Shame on me. RosAnn J. REFLECTION God is watching. Feel His love. Help me remember You are omniscient and omnipresent, ever attentive to me. Activity Choose something you do every day and abstain from it one day a week, just to prove to yourself that you are not doing it compulsively. Thought for the day Penances that are directed toward aiding others are far better than those that are self-focused. Particularly in today's world with the focus so often turning inwards to my needs and desires, a penance that challenges us to look beyond ourselves and to recognize and do something about the needs of others has far greater merit in the sight of God than self-focus. Yes, there is a need to address our own sins but when it comes to doing penance let us allow ourselves to truly make reparation to the Body of Christ through acts of charity and mercy. | | |
| Chair of St.Peter God reveals himself to his people in flesh and blood, in word and spirit. Matthew 16: 13-19 ACTIVITY | | Make two lists. On one, write your behaviors, habits and choices that have been life-giving, and, on another, those that have deprived you or others of life. Make a plan with God to root out just one of those that are from the spirit of death. |
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| The Catholic season of Lent 2007 begins today, Ash Wednesday, February 21. | | | | | | | Start (or continue) a spiritual journal today. Set down spiritual goals that you hope will accompany your concrete penances to return to the Lord. |
Activity Take your family to the Ash Wedensday liturgy and wear the ancient ashen cross. On this first day of the forty, let your outward pride fade into the humility of wearing the cross of those who seek forgiveness. |
Thought for the Day 
| | In reconciliation…we find that we’re not alone. In opening ourselves to God and to another person, we find ourselves experiencing God’s mercy in the way we know best: through another person. |
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